Accession No

2664

Brief Description

artificial horizon, 1875 (c)

Origin

Maker

Class

navigation

Earliest Date

1875

Latest Date

Inscription Date

Material

metal (iron, mercury); glass; wood

Dimensions

box length 270mm; breadth 226mm; height 149mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Inscription

Description Notes

Mercury artificial horizon (no mercury). Black painted cast iron, with brass screws. Mercury reservoir controlled by piston moved by screw. Mercury trough with glass plate. Three levelling screws. Fitted wooden box.

References

Events

Description
Artificial horizon
An artificial horizon can be used in darkness, fog, or when the real horizon is obscured for any other reason. They were often used in conjunction with other instruments that need a horizontal level, such as a sextant or reflecting circle. There are records of use from the mid 16th century onwards.

The 2 basic types of artificial horizon were mercury with a glass cover – the top layer of the mercury always staying level (this type is not very practical for use on a ship) and bubble levels, where the position of bubbles in a liquid shows which way the axis is tilting.

18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson on 18/10/2002

FM:44393